Covid-19 variant namamalaging banta: WHO
The WHO is urging people to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and influenza as a new coronavirus variant spreads in many countries © Pascal POCHARD-CASABIANCA / AFP
Namamalaging banta bilang isang virus variant ang Covid-19 na patuloy na kumakalat sa buong mundo, ayon sa World Health Organisation o WHO.
Sinabi ng WHO expert na si Maria Van Kerkhove, “This virus, SARS-CoV-2, is circulating in every country right now and it still poses a threat.”
Aniya, “We have to remain vigilant because the virus is circulating, evolving and changing.”
Si Van Kerkhove ang technical lead ng WHO sa panahon ng coronavirus pandemic na lumitaw noong 2019, at ngayon ay siya nang interim director for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention ng UN health agency.
Sa kasalukuyan ay mayroong tatlong variants of interest (XBB.1.5, XXB.1.16 and EG.5) at anim na variants na binabantayan na nasa mas mababang “level of concern.”
Isa sa anim, ang BA.2.86, ay i-aakyat na sa pagiging ‘variant of interest.’
Ayon kay Van Kerkhove, “We don’t see a change in severity compared to other variant sub-lineages, but we’ve seen a slow and steady increase in its detection around the world.”
Ang bagong klasipikasyon ay makatutulong upang mapaigting pa ang surveillance at research.
Isasapubliko rin ng WHO ang isang bagong ‘risk evaluation’ para sa EG.5, na kumakatawan sa halos kalahati ng sequences na makikita sa buong mundo, bagama’t hindi nagtala ang WHO ng pagbabago sa ‘severity’ o kalubhaan nito.
Ang Covid-19 pandemic ay pumatay na ng milyong katao at lumikha ng ‘economic and social havoc.’
Nagdeklara ang WHO ng isang ‘public health emergency of international concern,’ ang pinakamataas nilang alarma noong Enero 30, 2020, at tuluyan nang inalis noong Mayo 5 ngayong taon.
Bukod sa acute infection at disease, ipinag-aalala rin ng WHO ang tungkol sa long-term effects na dala ng virus, na tinatawag na Long Covid, o post-Covid conditions.
Sinabi ni Van Kerkhove, “We do have evidence that vaccination with Covid-19 vaccines does reduce the risk of post-Covid condition. 13.5 billion Covid-19 vaccines had been administered worldwide.
Dahil maaari aniyang sabay na dapuan ang isang tao ng SARS-CoV-2 at influenza, hinimok niya ang publiko na nasa bahaging northern hemisphere na magpabakuna laban sa dalawang sakit lalo ngayong papalapit na ang winter.
